Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx)

This article is about the Grade III thoroughbred horse race held at Parx. For the thoroughbred horse race with a similar name at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, see Smarty Jones Stakes (Oaklawn Park).
Smarty Jones Stakes
Listed race
LocationParx Casino and Racing
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Inaugurated2010
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.parxracing.com
Race information
Distance1+1⁄16 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree years old
Weight124 lbs. with allowances & 2 lbs added for stakes winners
Purse$200,000 (2024)
BonusesFirst three finishers received automatic entry to Grade I Pennsylvania Derby

The Smarty Jones Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years olds, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in early September at Parx Casino and Racing racetrack in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2010[1] with an attractive purse offered of $300,000[1] as a preparatory race for the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby where the winner was given automatic entry.

The event is named in honor of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, and hometown Pennsylvania hero Smarty Jones.[2]

Originally the distance of the event was set as 1 mile and 70 yards but was extended in 2016 to the current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.[3]

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Parx Racing did not schedule the event.[4]

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.[5]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:42.27 - Pavel (2017)
  • 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:40.89 - Wilburn (2011)

Margins:

  • 7 lengths – Awesome Slew (2016)

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner

  • No owner won this race more than once

Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
2024 Gould's Gold Emmanuel Esquivel Kenneth G. McPeek Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway & Magdalena Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.55 $200,000 Listed [6]
2023 Il Miracolo Luis Saez Antonio Sano Eduardo Soto 1+1⁄16 miles 1:48.59 $300,000 III [7]
2022 Best Actor Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Gary West & Mary West 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.14 $300,000 III [8]
2021 Fulsome Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Juddmonte 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.57 $300,000 III [9]
2020 Race not held
2019 Spun to Run Paco Lopez Juan Carlos Guerrero Robert P. Donaldson 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.14 $300,000 III [10]
2018 Axelrod Joe Bravo Michael W. McCarthy Slam Dunk Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.34 $300,000 III [11]
2017 Pavel Mario Gutierrez Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.27 $300,000 III [12]
2016 Awesome Slew Paco Lopez Edward Plesa Jr. Live Oak Plantation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.92 $300,000 III [13]
2015 Island Town Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian R. Wilkes Six Column Stables, Randell L. Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall 1 mile and 70 yards 1:44.10 $300,000 III [14]
2014 Protonico Joe Bravo Todd A. Pletcher International Equities Holding 1 mile and 70 yards 1:41.17 $300,000 III [15]
2013 Edge of Reality Stewart Elliott Anthony W. Dutrow The Elkstone Group 1 mile and 70 yards 1:42.20 $350,000 III [16]
2012 Easter Gift Kendrick Carmouche Nicholas P. Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1 mile and 70 yards 1:42.05 $350,000 III [17]
2011 Wilburn Corey Nakatani Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables 1 mile and 70 yards 1:40.89 $300,000 Listed [18]
2010 Thiskyhasnolimit Jamie Theriot Steven M. Asmussen Mark Zollars, Bob Wagner, and Cathy Wagner 1 mile and 70 yards 1:40.49 $300,000 Listed

References

  1. ^ a b "Smarty Jones Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  2. ^ "The Smarty Jones Stakes Gr. III" (PDF). Parx Casino and Racing. Parx Racing Media Guide for 2020. 2020. p. 19. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  3. ^ "SMARTY JONES STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Parx Racing Release 2021 Stakes Schedule". Penn Racing. BloodHorse. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  5. ^ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ "2024 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  7. ^ "2023 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ^ "2022 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  9. ^ "2021 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  10. ^ "2019 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  11. ^ "2018 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  12. ^ "2017 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  13. ^ "2016 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  14. ^ "2015 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  15. ^ "2014 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  16. ^ "2013 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  17. ^ "2012 Smarty Jones Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  18. ^ "2011 Smarty Jones Stakes Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2020.